According to public safety awareness website Kids and Cars, an average of 38 children die in the U.S. each year from heat-related deaths after being left inside motor vehicles. So far this year, 16 children have been reported dead after being trapped in hot cars.

Child safety expert Janice Williams told Minneapolis news outlet KMSP-TV that many people simply don't realize how quickly a car can heat up and become hazardous.

“Some parents intentionally leave their kids in the car because they are running a quick errand,” she said. “Too often, however, parents misjudge how long errands take. It only takes 10 to 20 minutes for a car to heat up to deadly temperatures.”

Kids and Cars says that a child should simply never be left alone in or around a car. "Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind," the organization advises.